Spring has officially sprung. Leaves and flowers are starting to pop up — and so are more martial arts tournaments.
If you’re participating in any martial arts competitions over the spring and summer tournament season, you’ve already done the hardest parts. You’ve taken the leap and committed to testing yourself against your fellow martial artists. You’ve put in all of the time and effort to be the best possible version of yourself on tournament day. Now all you need to do is start to taper your training and make sure your body, mind, and gear are in the best shape possible for the big event.
We’re here to help you with that last point.
Whether you’re a seasoned veteran or a competition rookie, here’s the gear that will help you get the most out of your spring and summer tournaments.
The Right Martial Arts Uniform
If you’re competing in Karate, Judo, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Tae Kwon Do, or any other martial arts tournament that requires a specific uniform, the first thing you’ll need to do is make sure that you have the right uniform for the job, such as a gi or dubok that meets all of the tournament’s requirements and your own needs as a martial artist.
To find this perfect martial arts uniform, start by researching the rules of the tournaments you’re planning to participate in. Make notes of what they say about size, fit, and any other concerns. Then make a list of potential uniforms that meet those standards.
Once you know what uniforms you can wear in your tournaments, you can start to figure out which one you want to compete in. Think about what you like in terms of comfort, style, fabric weave and weight, and pick the uniform that best fits your preferences.
Protective Gear
When you’re done your uniform research, take a look at what the rules have to say about protective gear or sparring gear like mouth guards, chest guards, shin guards, foot protectors, gloves, and groin guards. Make note of what’s required, what’s recommended, and what’s not allowed. These rules can vary by organization and martial art, so it’s important to doublecheck before every tournament.
Once you know what you need, you can start to pick out the types, models, and styles that work best for you. Then you can start to think about whether or not you want to use the recommended gear and think about what types of that gear you prefer. After that, it’s time to consider anything else that might help you feel more supported and comfortable so that you can focus on doing your absolute best on the big day.
Once you’ve made all of your choices and assembled all of the right sparring gear, it’s time to take it out for a spin. Take any new and unfamiliar sparring gear out for a few trial run during your training to make sure everything fits and is in working order — and that you feel comfortable using it.
Martial Arts Weapons
Karateka who are competing in weapons kata, creative forms, or events in extreme divisions will also need to get their martial arts weapons in order for competition.
You can follow the same general process to select the perfect martial arts weapons for tournament season. Make sure what weapons meet your competition’s regulations, then start to look at which models and styles best fit your needs and preferences as a martial artist. Which makes and models do you feel most comfortable using when you’re training? Is there a design that will help to highlight your techniques? Is there a specific design or color you like that might help you feel more confident on the big day?
If the answer to all of the above is a martial arts weapon that you’re already training with, you are good to go. If you need to invest in a new bo, kama, sai, sword, or nunchaku, we recommend incorporating the new weapons into your training so that you know exactly how to handle them and will be comfortable using them to the best of your abilities on competition day.
A Water Bottle
Proper hydration plays an important part in a martial artist’s overall health and performance. To make sure that you’re feeling and doing your best on competition day, make sure that you have a water bottle like the Classic Revolve Bottle handy at all times. And don’t forget to actually use it!
A Gear Bag
A good gear bag is the unsung hero of a successful tournament season. You might not be able to carry it into actual battle, but it will carry all of the things you need have the best showing possible in those battles.
The ideal tournament gear bag should be big enough to hold all of your gear and any extras you’ll need, like snacks, a change of clothes, your phone, and other personal items. It should also have a number of easily accessible compartments so that you can find everything you’ll need as fast as possible. Having exactly what you need and knowing exactly where it is can help to reduce your stress during competitions and allow you to better focus on your performance.
